Orchel

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A natural purple-red dye obtained from certain species of lichen ; a pigment used historically for coloring textiles and inks ; a substance derived from organic sources to produce a vibrant reddish-purple hue
2. A coloring matter extracted from lichens that yields a purple-red tint ; a dye employed in old-fashioned fabric and art applications ; an organic compound harvested for its vivid pigment properties
3. A type of dye extracted from specific lichens to create purplish-red shades ; a traditional natural pigment for use in various crafts ; a lichen-derived material used as a coloring agent in different media

Etymology: The name of this dye comes from a small ear. Latin "auris" meant "ear", and its diminutive "auricula" was used for a small ear, which later gave rise to "ōricilla" in Latin. The lichen used to make the dye was said to resemble a tiny ear, and that visual likeness shaped the name of the colour itself. The word travelled through several languages before reaching English. Italian took the form "oricello", and Old Catalan made it "orxella", which was altered under the influence of an Arabic dialect word, "'urjālla", before passing into Old French as "orchel" and "orseil". Middle English borrowed it as "orchell", and the spelling "orchil" eventually became standard, while "orchel" survives as an alternative form.

Synonyms: orchil, cudbear, lichen dye